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Coffee Beans in a Bottle (The Bottle Is the Gift Wrap.)

Introduction: Coffee Beans in a Bottle (The Bottle Is the Gift Wrap.)

I have been saving all of my empty bottles to make things out of. I am giving a friend of mine a late Christmas gift. I am giving him fresh coffee beans. I needed a way to store them and had no idea what was best to use. I did an internet search and discovered many interesting facts about coffee. This instructable was inspired by the weekly challenge to show off our wrapping techniques. Follow me and I will show you how to make a homemade gift come alive by finding the perfect container to wrap/store it in.

Step 1: Supplies

1 empty A-1 bottle

White tube paint with a pointed tip

Stamping Board

Lettering stamps

Just for a tie

Small button

Hole punch

Scissors

Pinking scissors optional

Marker

Small sample size coffee creamer

Poem

Coffee facts

Brown bag

Small scrap of fabric for card

Java coffee print out

Glue for the button

Razor blade to help remove label optional

Alcohol to help remove label optional

Rag to clean up the paint

Q tip to make necessary corrections to the stamped bottle optional

PC and printer or you can hand write it out

Step 2: Remove Label

Thoroughly clean the bottle.

Remove the bottle label by soaking in hot water.

Sometime alcohol helps.

Or Goo Gone according to SirJames.(Thank you SirJames.)

Completely dry.

Step 3: Stamping

Position the stamp letters to form the word coffee.

Paint the lettering.

Use a small piece of scrap paper to test the paint.

Re-apply the paint

Carefully position it over the front of the bottle.

Press lightly.

If you are happy set it aside while it dries.

If you do not like the results start over by removing the paint from the stamps and bottle.

Step 4: Card

Cut out a small piece of light brown fabric 1/2 inch larger than the (Java printed card.)

Pink the edges if you have a pair of pinking scissors.

Please note: The actual page is colored but I was out of colored ink. It is very pretty. Also the picture shows the poem which is in the next step.

Step 5: Coffee Poem

Print out the coffee poem re-sizing as necessary.

Morning Specter

By Jari Thymian

These coffee beans,
crushed to small flecks,
forgot their former shape and texture,
but rise at daybreak to the glass observatory
seeing flashes of light
in geysers of hot water,
percolating, rising lively,
saying, "Wait, wait," wanting
to float in the spectrum,
stretch the wavelengths
before sinking, pulled by undertows,
to the filter for rejuvenation,
where color and character
sweep through porous membrane,
flavoring the warm ocean,
where they willingly surrender
to new vessels.

Step 7: Coffee Facts

Coffee roasters frequently are asked questions about coffee storage. Should coffee be stored in the refrigerator? The freezer? Away from sunlight? In glass jars?

The truth is that there are many myths wandering around the coffee world about coffee storage, some of them repeated so often that they’ve taken on the patina of truth. The truths about coffee storage may surprise you.

The Most Common Myths about Coffee Storage

Quick – what do you do with that two pounds of coffee that you just bought? Ask that question in any group and at least one person will extol the virtues of storing your coffee in the freezer. Another will tell you to leave it in the vacuum stored container in which it was bought. Still a third will tell you to keep it in a glass container, and a fourth is sure to tell you that it really doesn’t matter at all. The truth is that each of those methods of coffee storage is the right answer – in certain conditions. Here’s some common sense advice from people who know about coffee – coffee growers and roasters.

Why is coffee storage so important?

Coffee beans are taken from a living plant, and as such, have a limited shelf life. Like most organic products, you can increase their life by storing them properly. More importantly – at least to most coffee enthusiasts – proper coffee storage preserves the flavor of the coffee. You see, coffee beans contain volatile oils – chemicals that give coffee its characteristic flavor. Those oils are released by the roasting process, and decay rather quickly once the coffee has been roasted. Grinding the coffee beans speeds up the flavor loss even more. Because of the difference in the way that those oils behave, there are different methods of coffee storage that are best for coffee at the different times in its life.

To get the best flavor from your coffee, you should brew it within two weeks of roasting, and immediately after grinding. In fact, coffee is at its peak flavor about 48 hours after roasting. That’s a time line that’s pretty close to impossible unless you’re buying raw beans and roasting your own. If you buy your coffee as whole roasted coffee beans, you can make a point of looking for the date that the coffee was roasted – but you’ll seldom find it. Failing that, here are some tips on coffee buying and coffee storage that will help ensure that you get a great tasting and fresh cup of coffee every time.

Coffee Buying Tips

The first rules of proper coffee storage have nothing to do with containers or temperatures. They have to do with how you buy your coffee.

1. If you can, buy from a local roaster who will tell you when the coffee was roasted. Then you know that you’re starting with fresh coffee.

2. Buy coffee in vacuum sealed bags or cans. Those lovely self serve coffee bean displays with a dozen different varieties of coffee beans are pretty to look at – but the bins allow air to attack the coffee beans, and you have no idea how long the beans have stood there.

3. Buy no more than two weeks supply of coffee at a time. After two weeks, even freshly roasted coffee will begin to lose its flavor.

Coffee Storage Tips

When considering coffee storage, keep in mind the two main enemies of fresh coffee flavor – air and moisture. Your coffee storage solutions should prevent either from getting at your coffee beans.

1. Don’t store ground coffee. Buy your coffee as whole beans, and grind it when you’re ready to brew. If you do buy ground coffee for the convenience, store it at room temperature in an airtight container after it’s been opened. A ceramic canister with a vacuum seal is a good choice – but avoid clear glass. Sunlight and heat are not good for your coffee.

2. Store up to a one week supply of whole coffee beans in an airtight canister at room temperature. You can use those pretty ceramic canisters, but they’re really not necessary. Any canister that you can seal with an airtight seal is fine, including the can that you bought it in.

3. If you find yourself with more coffee than you’ll use in one week, you can store up to another week’s supply in the freezer – but you should take some precautions to keep the air and moisture away from it first. Here’s how to store coffee safely in your freezer:

- Put the beans in an airtight canister.

- Or – put the beans in a zippered plastic storage back. Whoosh out all the extra air, or use a straw to suck it out. Then wrap the bag in one or two layers of plastic wrap and finish up with a layer of aluminum foil.

- Either way, once you take the canister or package out of the freezer, don’t put it back in. Refreezing your coffee will only dehydrate it and hasten the flavor decay.

I tried to get the link to work and apparently the site is down. I wanted to give credit for the information.

Step 8: Roll

Remove the bottom from the brown bag by cutting it off.

Estimate the size you need to make a roll.

Pink the edges if you have a pair of pinking scissors.

Over the writing on the left of the bag I colored in a coffee cup with a black marker and added steam.

Place the coffee facts inside the bag with the "have it your way to the outside of the sack."

Roll it up in a roll.

Make a hole in the top to thread the juts through.

You might wish to tape it to the bottle instead. I needed it to show up for the pictures so I added it to the bottle connected to the Java card.

Step 9: Lid

Glue a button to the top of the bottle.

Thread the just through the card.

Add the Card and roll of coffee facts.

Tie it to the bottle.

Using a funnel you can add the coffee beans or ground them if your receiver does not have a grinder.

They recommend to wait until you want a cup of coffee to grind the beans.

You can glue the creamer on the lid if you like.

Step 10: Sunshiine's Final Thoughts

I am very happy with the results of this gift package. You can do this method with just about any type of powdered substance. Perhaps you are making a recipe of blended herbs that will be used for a dip. Seeds from your herb garden or a special spice that you made. This makes a classy presentation.
Thank you for stopping by and do have a great day!
Sunshiine

OK, I wonder if those hard shells would absorb the A-1 flavor if you soaked them in it? Hmmm with the coffee contest on I may experiment using hubby for a tester. I am not a coffee drinker. It is awful but the strange thing is I love the smell of coffee when it is freshly ground and as it is brewing. Thanks for commenting and have a great cup of coffee on me today!Sunshiine

With the ingredients in the A1 it may just soak into the bean. The problem will be when you go to 'grind' it. It will have a higher liquid content and may be more of a mushy than a grind. That is why most flavored beans are either ground with a powdered flavor added or they use an alcohol based flavor.. to get the flavor in and still let it dry out..so to speak. The vinegar and tomato acids in the A1 will let the flavor in though. I have been looking into a TON of coffee things since I have discovered home roasting and been talking to a Master Roaster at a local place about things. I too have had some coffee ideas like this, but have not found the right way to try them out yet. There are some problems with the alcohol method too, but if you have a huge company with scientists at your disposal you know how to get around it.. atlas, we don't. LOL OH! Also, a lot of flavors get added in the process of the coffee berry being dried into the bean. Yet, like decaf, usually the flavored beans are of a lower quality than the regular to keep the cost even. So be sure you are buying those from a good reputation or you may sacrifice quality. Sorry to have written a book, but wanted to try and help! Good luck and I would LOVE to know if the A1 coffee works for you!

I wanted to add that I really enjoyed this instructable though! I am planning on gifting some of my fresh roasts to friends and this gave me a LOT of ideas! Thanks again!